Final round of rail stations improvements announced

Port Talbot Parkway train station is to be one of a series of stations to be improved across Wales under the Wales Station Improvement Programme (NSIP+), Transport Minister, Carl Sargeant, announced today.

Wednesday 07 November 2012

As one of the final programme of stations to be improved under the £40m scheme, passengers at Port Talbot Parkway will benefit from an enhanced station environment including improved accessibility through step free access to the platform.

Other stations to benefit from the final programme of NSIP+ funding include:

Pontypridd

Rhyl

Ystrad Mynach

Aberystwyth

Carl Sargeant said:

“ Developing a truly sustainable transport network in Wales is vital if we are to further encourage the public to use rail more frequently.

“ By developing train stations that are cleaner, more accessible and safer we will encourage more people to consider taking the train over the car.

“ In the short term these projects will also provide a boost to local economies as local employment will be used in the refurbishment of the stations.

“ In the longer term each scheme will have a positive impact on their surrounding areas by providing positive first impressions, reducing congestion and potentially act as catalysts for future investment in the regions.

Developed in partnership with Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, the aim of the wide ranging NSIP+ is to encourage the use of rail service to access jobs, shops and recreation in addition to improving accessibility.

The funding package for the programme includes £21m from the European Regional Development Fund structural funding, £5.5m Welsh Government rail capital funding, £3.7m DfT national station improvement programme funding, £4.5m from Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, £2.3m from Regional Transport Consortia and local authorities and £0.9m from private sector funders and the Railway Heritage Trust.

Delivering the scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government will be Network Rail. Mark Langman, Network Rail’s Wales route managing director, said:

“The announcement confirming investment in these stations demonstrates the governments and rail industry's commitment to improving the rail infrastructure across Wales".

"Stations are the shop window for the railway and this improvement programme will encourage even more people onto the trains at a time when we are seeing record passenger numbers".

“Importantly this investment will greatly enhance the gateway to these locations as well as helping to regenerate and revitalise the communities they are in".

Train stations that have already benefited from previous NSIP funding include the £7.9m refurbishment of Swansea Train Station, the £1m enhancement of Porthmadog Harbour Station in addition to the recently announced £5.1m improvement of Llandudno Train Station.